Do you ever wonder why you do something? Like were you called to be a teacher? Perhaps a nurse, mechanic, accountant, or a first responder.
I have been with my local fire department now for nearly 6 months and I love it. It pushes me beyond what I know. I have been taking a class too these past few months in which I have learned building construction, knots, fire growth, and patterns, how to tell where a fire starts, community prevention programs, hose handling, ladder hoisting and SO much more. I mean this barely scratches the surface in my fire career. I am planning on going to the next class and do interior firefighting. Why am I sharing? Maybe to be more accountable. I have had some crazy comments when people find out I am a volunteer firefighter. " But you are a mom." " Wait you? Why would you risk your life?" The best ones are those in support. The ones shocked at how well my husband supports me. That he is always encouraging me to push forward and tells me he loves me as I run out the door and turn on the blue light in my car and drive to a call.
Now I want to move into why I do it. My instructor said one of his most remembered call was with the Fairport Five. If you do not know the story it is basically 5 incredible girls who just graduated high school from Fairport and were driving to a lake house to celebrate. They tried to pass a van and when getting back into the lane over corrected and hit a tractor trailer. There have been rumors of linking to texting while driving as well. While I was not there and was not at the scene of this. I knew some of the girls. One in particular, Katie was an only child. She was in my gym class when I was a senior and I remember her just lighting up the gym with her smile. She was friendly to everyone and it didn't matter what group you fell into. To have this incident have occured in the town I ended up moving too and wanting to give back in almost makes it come full circle for me.
My mom and siblings also experienced a house fire when I was in college. My poor siblings lost so much that day. Their room was right next to the bathroom where the fire had started and the damage was great. The firefighters that responded were incredible and even had my brother and sisters baby blankets cleaned professionally and saved. They still have those at 16 and 17 years of age. A piece of their childhood was saved.
I became a firefighter because I had bought my first home and wanted to set down roots. I wanted to learn the streets, and meet the people in my town. I wanted my son to see that even his 5'2 mom could pull herself up into the truck with the guys and be apart of a team. I always loved being on a team, whether it was soccer growing up of rugby. And now to be apart of a team that protects the community is pretty incredible.
The fire department has led me to meet incredible people. They also see my faith and how I stand out. I don't drink, or smoke, I don't drink coffee ( I also do not drink caffeine but that was my own choice.) And well I was told I stick out in such a positive way. My cousin even said today that she needed prayers and even though she prayed for something she knew mine would just work because of the relationship I have with Heavenly Father. I then asked her who was cutting onions as I was suddenly crying. Hello hormones!
I need to hear these things this week. 3 years ago my first husband asked me to leave and wanted a divorce. While everything has worked out in the end. ( Meaning he is a great coparent, his new girlfriend is nice, and I married a fantastic supportive man) You never go into a marriage hoping for a divorce. Hearing the words " I don't love you anymore" are crippling. But you know what?
There is someone who will never ever say that. Even if you turn your back on him. Even when you do not believe in yourself. And that is Heavenly Father. He knows the amount of hairs on your head and knows you by name. He knows your true heart.
He has this great plan for each of us. His plan lead me to Jeffrey in Utah. His plan led me to 2 1/2 years of infertility with the gift being my son. (Yes this is a positive) He led me to the fire department and the community I live in. And he led me to write this out.
I testify that what I believe is true, and that the church I belong too (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is true as well. The people stand out among the crowd.
I stand out among others for my faith.
"This picture is a very symbolic one. It shows six firefighters on Ladder 118 coming over the Brooklyn Bridge for their last ride.